Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2016 10:36:25 GMT -6
MURFREESBORO — Tennessee Secondary Schools Athletic Association Executive Director Bernard Childress called it closing a loophole Tuesday.
Private school administrators called it creating confusion as to where they fit in the high school athletic association.
The loophole? While private schools providing need-based financial aid had been sent to compete in Division II, those that provided aid to immediate family members of athletes as well as work study had been allowed to remain in a division competing with public schools.
That was resolved Tuesday when TSSAA's Legislative Council approved five of six proposals including the creation of a "financial-assistance program" that would move schools that provide it to Division II.
The program is for all schools – both public and private – that provide any financial assistance to tuition-paying athletes or members of athletes’ immediate family. Financial assistance includes student employment for athletes or employment for parents, guardians or immediate family members unless they are full-time certified teachers or classified employees.
Any public or private school that has a financial assistance program (i.e., loans or employment) must compete in Division II, which currently includes schools that offer need-based financial aid or money. That program begins in the 2017-18 school year after the next reclassification.
The state goes through reclassification every four years.
“Twenty years ago when the rule was put in to have Division I and Division II and base it on need-based financial aid they left some gaps in the rules and loopholes that people could use,” Childress said. “(Tuesday) they closed those loopholes.”
Childress acknowledged that some may try to find new loopholes.
“You can’t write a rule for everything,” Childress said. “We couldn’t legislate morals and ethics. … You have to write what you feel is fair and equitable for everyone.”
Childress pointed out that each approved proposal affects both public and private schools. The council’s decisions came 47 days after it voted against a complete public-private split by a 5-4 vote.
Lewis County Assistant Principal Mike Tatum, who is on the Legislative Council, said he remains unconvinced that the decisions will create a fair and level playing field between public and private schools.
Lewis County and Trousdale County officials had proposed a public-private split.
“I really don’t think it will,” Tatum said. “Time will tell. We’ll have to wait and see.”
Private school administrators called it creating confusion as to where they fit in the high school athletic association.
The loophole? While private schools providing need-based financial aid had been sent to compete in Division II, those that provided aid to immediate family members of athletes as well as work study had been allowed to remain in a division competing with public schools.
That was resolved Tuesday when TSSAA's Legislative Council approved five of six proposals including the creation of a "financial-assistance program" that would move schools that provide it to Division II.
The program is for all schools – both public and private – that provide any financial assistance to tuition-paying athletes or members of athletes’ immediate family. Financial assistance includes student employment for athletes or employment for parents, guardians or immediate family members unless they are full-time certified teachers or classified employees.
Any public or private school that has a financial assistance program (i.e., loans or employment) must compete in Division II, which currently includes schools that offer need-based financial aid or money. That program begins in the 2017-18 school year after the next reclassification.
The state goes through reclassification every four years.
“Twenty years ago when the rule was put in to have Division I and Division II and base it on need-based financial aid they left some gaps in the rules and loopholes that people could use,” Childress said. “(Tuesday) they closed those loopholes.”
Childress acknowledged that some may try to find new loopholes.
“You can’t write a rule for everything,” Childress said. “We couldn’t legislate morals and ethics. … You have to write what you feel is fair and equitable for everyone.”
Childress pointed out that each approved proposal affects both public and private schools. The council’s decisions came 47 days after it voted against a complete public-private split by a 5-4 vote.
Lewis County Assistant Principal Mike Tatum, who is on the Legislative Council, said he remains unconvinced that the decisions will create a fair and level playing field between public and private schools.
Lewis County and Trousdale County officials had proposed a public-private split.
“I really don’t think it will,” Tatum said. “Time will tell. We’ll have to wait and see.”